JP2000292998A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the space and to reduce the cost by arranging a first recording paper housing part which is small-sized on the more upstream side of a carrying path than the other recording paper housing part. SOLUTION: The case 3 of an image forming device 100 is provided with a recording paper housing part 30 housing roll paper 300. A figure shows a state that it is pulled out from a main body. A case 4 on the lower side is provided with a recording paper housing part 40 housing roll paper 400, and also a case 5 is provided with a recording paper housing part 50 (the first recording paper housing part that is small-sized) housing cut-paper 500. Thus, an image forming part 1 is arranged on the upper side of the recording paper housing parts 30, 40 and 50, and the recording paper housing part 50 capable of housing the cut-paper 500 of the size width, for instance, up to 420 mm is arranged on a lower side than the recording paper housing parts 30 and 40 capable of housing the roll paper 300 and 400 of the size width, for instance, up to 841 mm on the upstream side of the carrying path.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for storing recording paper of a plurality of sizes and forming an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer of an electrophotographic system, a user does not need to replace a recording sheet every time according to recorded contents. A plurality of types of recording papers are stored in a plurality of recording paper storage units, and an optimum recording paper is selected from the plurality of recording paper storage units and supplied to the image forming unit in accordance with the content of the recording. Things are going on. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-027138 discloses an image forming section in which recording paper storage sections are vertically arranged in multiple stages, and the recording paper from the multi-stage recording paper storage sections is conveyed. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus provided with a transport path having a vertical linear portion leading to the image forming apparatus. Also, JP-A-8-9
Japanese Patent No. 1649 proposes an image forming apparatus including a plurality of recording paper storage units that store a plurality of roll papers.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-150975 proposes an image forming apparatus capable of accommodating roll paper and cut paper in a mixed state.

[0003]

However, in the above-described image forming apparatus, recording paper of a desired size can be freely stored in any of the recording paper storage sections, but the recording paper from all of the recording paper storage sections is used. The transport path and the transport means for transporting are configured such that the recording paper of the maximum size can be transported in the width direction intersecting the transport direction, so that there is a problem that space and cost in the apparatus are wasted.
In particular, in an electronic copying machine or printer for drawings that handles recording paper from A0 size to A4 size, the transport path and transport means for transporting the recording paper from all the recording paper storage units are the maximum size. It is necessary to configure so that A0 size recording paper can be conveyed, resulting in large waste of space and cost of the apparatus.

[0004] In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that saves space and reduces costs.

[0005]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of recording paper accommodating portions accommodating recording paper; and a recording paper being fed from each of the plurality of recording paper accommodating portions. A recording paper feeding unit corresponding to the recording paper storage unit; an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording paper fed from the recording paper storage unit selected from the plurality of recording paper storage units; When the recording paper is fed from a predetermined recording paper storage part of the paper storage part, the recording paper is conveyed to the image forming unit along a predetermined conveyance path, and among the plurality of recording paper storage parts, Recording paper transport means for receiving the recording paper halfway along the transport path and transporting the recording paper to the image forming unit when the recording paper is fed out of a recording paper storage unit other than the predetermined recording paper storage unit. In the image forming apparatus, At least one of the plurality of recording paper storage units has a smaller size than the other recording paper storage units in the width direction that intersects the conveyance direction when being conveyed along the conveyance path. The recording paper is stored therein, and the first recording paper storage is arranged on the upstream side of the above-mentioned transport path from other recording paper storages.

Here, the image forming section is arranged above the plurality of recording sheet accommodation sections, and the first recording sheet accommodation section is arranged below other recording sheet accommodation sections. It is preferable that it is done.

[0007] Further, the plurality of recording paper storage sections are provided in respective drawer-type housings, and each of the recording paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper from each recording paper storage section, and the transport path. It is also preferable that each part is arranged in each drawer type housing together with each recording paper accommodation part.

It is also a preferable embodiment that each of the drawer-type casings has a transport path door that opens and closes a part of the transport path arranged in the casing so as to be openable and closable.

Further, at least one of the plurality of recording paper storage units other than the first recording paper storage unit may be a recording paper storage unit for storing roll paper.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming section 1 for forming an image on a recording sheet.
Below the image forming section 1, three drawer-type housings 3, 4, and 5 are arranged in order from the top. The image forming section 1 is provided with an operation display section 8 for displaying a message such as a paper jam or running out of paper, or for performing necessary operations. The casings 3 and 4 accommodate roll paper from A3 size (297 mm width) to A0 size (841 mm width), and the casing 5 ranges from A4 vertical size (210 mm width) to A3 horizontal size (420 mm width). Up to cut paper is stored.

The casings 3 and 4 are provided with transport path doors 36 and 46 having knobs 36a and 46a, respectively. By operating these knobs 36a and 46a, the transport path doors 36 and 46 are opened. The recording paper remaining inside due to paper jam or the like can be removed. The housing 5 is provided with a knob 56a for pulling out the housing 5.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which a housing immediately below the image forming section is pulled out.

The housing 3 shown in FIG. 2 and pulled out of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a recording paper storage unit 30 for storing roll paper 300. A rail mechanism 10 is provided on a lower side surface of the housing 3.
Is pulled out by the rail mechanism 10 in the transport direction of the roll paper 300 (right side in this figure). The housing 4 has a recording paper storage unit 4 for storing roll paper 400.
0, and the housing 5 has a cut sheet 500
Is provided (an example of a first recording paper accommodating section according to the present invention). Although the housings 4 and 5 can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus 100 main body similarly to the housing 3, they are not shown here. Although not shown, a paper quality selection switch and a paper type selection switch are provided for each roll paper on the front upper portion of the housing 3, and when the roll paper is set, the paper quality of the roll paper and the usage of the roll paper are set. Which roll paper is to be registered is registered.
A control unit 9 that controls the entire image apparatus 100 is provided behind the housing 5 (on the left side in this figure). As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming unit 1 is disposed above the recording paper storage units 30, 40, and 50, and the recording paper storage unit capable of storing cut paper 500 having a size width of up to 420 mm. Reference numeral 50 denotes a recording paper storage unit 30 capable of storing roll papers 300 and 400 having a size width of up to 841 mm.
It is arranged below 40.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a transport path on which the recording paper is transported in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows recording paper storage units 30, 40, 50.
3 shows a transport path 11 for transporting the recording paper to the image forming position of the image forming unit 1 when the recording paper is fed from a predetermined recording paper storage unit. This transport path 1
1 is divided into portions 11a, 11b, and 11c corresponding to the recording paper storage units 30, 40, and 50, and a portion 11d up to an image transfer position in the image forming unit 1.

In the image forming apparatus 100, when a recording sheet is fed out of a predetermined recording sheet storage section of the three recording sheet storage sections 30, 40, 50, the recording sheet is transferred along the transport path 11. When the recording paper is fed from a recording paper storage unit other than the predetermined recording paper storage unit among the three recording paper storage units 30, 40, and 50, the recording paper is transported to the image forming unit 1. Conveyance rollers 34_1, 34_2, and 4 that receive the image on the path 11 and convey the image to the image forming unit 1
4_1, 44_2, and 54 (an example of a recording paper conveying unit according to the present invention) are provided. The image forming unit 1 forms an image on the recording paper fed from the recording paper storage unit selected from the three recording paper storage units 30, 40, and 50 as described later.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 100, roll paper 300, 400,
Each recording paper storage unit 30, 4 for feeding out the cut paper 500
Delivery rollers 31, 41, 51 corresponding to 0, 50
(Each of which is an example of the recording paper feeding means referred to in the present invention).

In the housing 3, the leading portion of the roll paper 300 sent out by the feed roller 31 is cut by the rotary cutter 33 arranged on the sub-conveyance path 32, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 34 _ 1 as recording paper. 1
1 is supplied in the portion 11a. In the housing 4,
The leading portion of the roll paper 400 sent out by the feed roller 41 is cut by the rotary cutter 43 arranged on the sub-transport path 42 and is cut as the recording paper by the feed roller 4.
4_1, it is supplied into the portion 11b of the transport path 11. Further, in the housing 5, the cut paper 50
0 is supplied to the portion 11c of the transport path 11 one by one via the transport roller 54.

The portions 11a, 11 of the transport path 11
b, 11c, the recording paper supplied to the transport rollers 34_
1, 34_2, 44_1, 44_2, the transport route 1
1 is supplied to the portion 11d. A manual paper feed unit 6 is provided on the right side surface of the image forming unit 1 shown in FIG.
Can be supplied to the portion 11d.

The recording paper supplied to the portion 11 d of the transport path 11 is transported downstream by the transport roller 12 and reaches the photosensitive drum 14 via the registration roller 13. Around the photosensitive drum 14, a charger 15 and a developing device 16
And a pre-transfer corotron 17, a transfer corotron 18,
A cleaner 19 is provided. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 14 is uniformly charged to a predetermined voltage by the charger 15, and then the surface of the photoreceptor drum 14 is exposed to an image by exposure means (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. Is done. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 14 is developed by a developing unit 16 to develop a toner. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is
If necessary, the toner is charged by the pre-transfer corotron 17, and then transferred onto the recording paper by discharging the transfer corotron 18. The recording paper to which the toner image has been transferred is guided to the fixing device 21 by the vacuum transport unit 20 and is fixed. The recording paper on which the fixing is completed is discharged from the recording paper discharge port 7 by the discharge roller 22.

On the other hand, the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 on which the transfer of the toner image and the transfer to the recording paper have been completed is cleaned of residual toner by a cleaner 19, and is prepared for the next image forming step.

Further, as described above, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has the transport path door 36, which opens and closes the portions 11a, 11b of the transport path 11 arranged in the casings 3, 4, so as to be openable and closable. 46 is provided, and the recording paper is
When a paper jam occurs in a state of straddling between the sheet and the portion 11b, the recording paper can be easily removed by opening the transport path doors 36 and 46.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a cross section of the housing shown in FIG.

As described above, the recording paper accommodating portion 30 provided in the housing 3 shown in FIG.
m) to roll paper 3 from A0 size (width 841 mm)
00, and the roll paper 300
Constant speed V (mm / sec)
It is sent out in the upper right direction in FIG. 4 in c). The delivery roller 31 also has a function of rewinding the leading portion of the roll paper 300 after the cutting operation in a direction opposite to the above direction.

Downstream of the feed roller 31, a reflective photosensor 37_ for detecting the width of the roll paper 300 is provided.
1 are provided in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the initialization operation, the portion pulled out from the roll paper 300 is moved by the feed roller 31 to the photo sensor 37_1.
After the sheet is sent out to the detection position and the size is detected, when the leading end position reaches just before the rotary cutter 33 provided downstream of the photo sensor 37_1, the apparatus enters a standby state.

Here, the roll paper 300 is fed by the feed roller 31, and then the rotary cutter 33.
Receives the cut operation signal in response to the document length information. Then, the rotary blade 33a of the rotary cutter 33 rotates, and the blade edge 33b is continuously rubbed with the fixed blade 33c, so that the roll paper 300 is cut into a predetermined length.
It should be noted that even during cutting by the rotary cutter 33, the roll paper 30
0 is continuously transported, so that the rotary cutter 33 is rotated by the roll paper 30 so that the cut portion is perpendicular to the transport direction.
It is mounted obliquely to the transport direction of 0. Downstream of the rotary cutter 33, a reflection type photosensor 37_2 for detecting the leading end of the transport roller 34_1 and the roll paper 300 is provided. Also, the transport roller 34_2
Downstream of the roll paper 4 from the recording paper storage units 40 and 50.
00, photosensor 3 for detecting cut sheet 500
8 are provided.

The transport path portion 11a is covered with a transport path door 36 so as to be openable and closable. In FIG. 4, the transport path door 36 in the closed state is indicated by a solid line, and the transport path door 3 in the open state is illustrated.
6 is indicated by a dashed line.

Next, a description will be given of a paper jam treatment in the portion 11a of the transport path 11.

If a paper jam is determined during paper feeding, the positions of the photosensors 37_2 and 38, the position of the portion 11a of the transport path 11, and the distance to the recording paper nip position by the transport rollers 34_1 and 34_2 are known. The leading edge position of the recording paper is determined based on the recording paper transport amount calculated by the transport distance calculating unit, and the position of the recording paper staying in the portion 11a of the transport path 11 is detected based on the determination result. You. As a result, a message indicating that a paper jam has occurred and a message for opening the transport path door 36 and prompting removal of the remaining recording paper are displayed on the operation display unit 8 (see FIG. 1). The operator opens the transport path door 36 according to the message displayed on the operation display section 8 and removes the remaining recording paper. The paper jam treatment at the portion 11b of the transport path 11 is the same as the paper jam treatment at the portion 11a of the transport path 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transport path of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the transfer path doors 36 of the casings 3 and 4.
The state where 46 has been removed is shown, and a part of the housing 5 is shown in cross section. Baffles 39, 4 forming portions 11a, 11b of the transport path 11 are provided on the housings 3, 4.
9 are provided. FIG. 5 shows a baffle 3
9, the transport rollers 34_1 and 34_2 viewed from the baffle 49 and the transport rollers 44_1 and 44_2 viewed from the baffle 49 are shown. In the present embodiment, three housings 3, 4, 5
The recording paper storage unit 50 of the recording paper storage units 30, 40, and 50 (see FIG. 3) intersects with the other recording paper storage units 30, 40 in the transport direction when transported along the transport path 11. A recording sheet having a small size in the width direction is accommodated therein, and the recording sheet accommodating section 50 is used for the other recording sheet accommodating sections 30 and 4
It is arranged on the upstream side of the transport path 11 from 0.

Here, the cut sheet 500 fed from the recording sheet accommodating section 50 of the housing 5 is transported by the conveying rollers 44_2 and 44.
_1, 34_2, and 34_1, and are fed to the image forming unit 1 arranged at the upper part of the housing 3. The transport roller 44_2 is a cut sheet 50 of A3 horizontal size (width 420 mm), which is the maximum size fed from the recording paper storage unit 50.
Since only 0 can be transported, only three transport rollers 44_2 are required.

The recording paper fed from the recording paper accommodating section 40 of the housing 4 is transported by the transport rollers 44_1, 34_2, and 34.
_1 and fed to the image forming unit 1. Since recording paper of A0 size (width 841 mm) is fed from the recording paper storage unit 40, a roller arrangement for obtaining a uniform conveyance force in the entire width direction of the conveyance path 11 is required. However, in the present embodiment, the number of the transport rollers 44_1 arranged in the width direction of the transport path 11 only needs to be five because the transport rollers 34_2 supplement the operation.

Further, a recording paper of A0 size (width 841 mm) is fed from the recording paper accommodating section 30 of the housing 3. For this reason, a roller arrangement for obtaining a uniform and wide conveying force in the width direction of the conveying path 11 is required. In order to support the feeding of A0 size recording paper from the upstream recording paper storage unit 40,
The transport rollers 34_2 and 34_1 are arranged over a wider range in the width direction of the transport path 11 than the other transport rollers 44_2 and 44_1 described above.

The transport rollers 44_2, 44_1, 34
The intervals between _2 and _1 in the transport direction are shorter than the minimum length of the cut sheet fed from the recording sheet storage unit 50. Here, the nip pressure of each of the transport rollers 44_2, 44_1, 34_2, and 34_1 is stronger at the center portion than at the end portion in order to transport the narrow cut sheet supplied from the recording sheet storage unit 50 without bending. It is configured as follows.

The transport rollers 44_2, 44_1, 3
4_2 and 34_1 are arranged so that the individual rollers in the width direction are alternately arranged in the transport direction, so that stable transport can be obtained. Further, the transport rollers 44_2, 44
Since the numbers of the individual rollers _1, 34_2, and 34_1 increase toward the downstream side and are arranged in a substantially fan-shaped manner, the rollers act on the same recording paper such that the transport force increases toward the downstream side.

As described above, the transport rollers 44_2 and 44_
No. 1 has a simpler configuration because the roller overall length is shorter than the transport rollers 34_2 and 34_1, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the overall length of the roller is short, the accuracy of the deflection of the recording paper can be improved. Power supplies 91_1 and 91_2 attached to the bottom frame 92 are provided in the spaces on both sides of the housing 5 in order to make effective use of the space, so that the overall size of the apparatus can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the baffles 39 and 49 forming the transport path 11 are formed to have the same width. However, a baffle 49 having a narrow width may be used. Reduction can be achieved. In addition, in order to cope with various recording paper widths, even if each recording accommodating section is arranged in multiple stages, it is possible to stably convey the recording paper with extremely little occurrence of bending or wrinkling of the recording paper. Can be.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 6 includes the above-described image forming section 1 and three drawer-type casings 203 and 2.
04, 205 are provided. Each housing 203, 20
4, 205 are provided with recording paper storage units 230, 240, and 250 for storing cut sheets 530, 540, and 550, respectively.

The size of the cut sheet 530 accommodated in the recording sheet accommodating section 230 ranges from A4 length (width 210 mm) to A1 width (width 841 mm). Also, the recording paper storage unit 24
The size of the cut paper 540 accommodated in 0 is from A4 length (width 210 mm) to A2 width (width 594 mm).
Further, the cut paper 55 stored in the recording paper storage unit 250
The size of 0 is from A4 length (width 210 mm) to A3 width (width 4 mm).
20 mm). The transfer path 211 shown in FIG.
The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment described above
Is the same as the configuration of the transport path 11. Also, the housing 20
A control unit 209 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 200 is disposed behind the image forming apparatus 200 (the left side in this figure).

As described above, the cut sheet 55 having a size width of 420 mm is arranged in the lower part of the image forming section 1 in ascending order from the bottom.
Recording paper storage unit 250 capable of storing 0, size width 594 m
recording paper storage unit 24 capable of storing cut paper 540 up to m
0, a recording paper accommodating section 230 capable of accommodating cut paper 530 having a size width of up to 841 mm is provided, and convey rollers and the like in the conveying path 211 are simply configured to reduce costs and save the space of the apparatus. You may try.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Electronic copiers and printers corresponding to various recording paper widths can be supplied in a less expensive and compact form.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a state in which a housing immediately below an image forming unit is pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a conveyance path through which a recording sheet is conveyed in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a cross section of the housing shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a transport path of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming part 3, 4, 5, 203, 204, 205 Case 6 Manual paper feed part 7 Recording paper discharge port 8 Operation display part 9, 209 Control part 10 Rail mechanism part 11, 211 Transport path 11a, 11b, 11c , 11d Each part of the transport path 12, 34_1, 34_2, 44_1, 44_2, 54
Transport roller 13 Registration roller 14 Photoreceptor drum 15 Charger 16 Developing device 17 Pre-transfer corotron 18 Transfer corotron 19 Cleaner 20 Vacuum transport unit 21 Fixing device 22 Discharge roller 30, 40, 50, 230, 240, 250 Recording paper storage unit 31 , 41, 51 Delivery rollers 32, 42 Sub-conveyance path 33, 43 Rotary cutter 33a Rotary blade 33b Blade tip 33c Fixed blade 36, 46 Transport path door 36a, 46a, 56a Knob 37_1, 37_2, 38 Photo sensor 39, 49 Baffle 91_1, 91_2 Power supply 92 Bottom frame 100, 200 Image forming apparatus 300, 400 Roll paper 500, 530, 540, 550 Cut paper

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of recording paper accommodation units accommodating recording paper; a recording paper feeding unit corresponding to each recording paper accommodation unit for feeding out recording paper from each of the plurality of recording paper accommodation units; An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper fed from the recording paper storage unit selected from the paper storage units; and a recording paper is fed from a predetermined recording paper storage unit of the plurality of recording paper storage units. The recording paper is conveyed to the image forming unit along a predetermined conveyance path when the recording paper is received, and the recording paper is transferred from a recording paper storage unit of the plurality of recording paper storage units other than the predetermined recording paper storage unit. And a recording paper conveying means for receiving the recording paper in the middle of the conveyance path and conveying the recording paper to the image forming section when the paper is fed out, wherein at least one of the plurality of recording paper accommodation sections is provided. Two first
Wherein the first recording sheet accommodates a recording sheet smaller in size in the width direction intersecting with the conveyance direction when being conveyed along the conveyance path than the other recording sheet accommodation sections. An image forming apparatus, wherein a paper storage unit is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance path from another recording paper storage unit. 2. The image forming section is disposed above the plurality of recording paper storage sections, and the first recording paper storage section is disposed below other recording paper storage sections. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A plurality of recording paper storage sections, each of which is provided in a drawer type housing, wherein each of the recording paper feeding means for feeding recording paper from each of the recording paper storage sections, and 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each part is arranged in each drawer type housing together with each recording paper storage part. 4. The drawer-type casing according to claim 3, further comprising a transport path door that opens and closes each part of the transport path disposed in the casing. Image forming apparatus. 5. A recording paper storage section for storing roll paper, wherein at least one of the plurality of recording paper storage sections other than the first recording paper storage section is a recording paper storage section for storing roll paper. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: